What a great way to end this year's weddings - at the Milwaukee Art Museum with my good friends!

What a terrific couple Todd and Joanna were. And the family and friends had a terrific time!

It was especially great to meet Joanna's aunt from Poland who had never been on plane or left Poland yet made the journey!

The florist Freshdesign did a fabulous job and it shows in the photos.

The Milwaukee Art

Museum once again awed the family and guests.

It so amazing to see what the Chefs at the Art Museum can create!

It is always great to work with Superior Video.

The Jeff Sandler Orchestra kept the guests going to the end of a wonderful night.

New York Assignment for Hotels Magazine

One of the things I love about photography is the diversity. I love the corporate work as much as my usual weddings. I was recently in New York City for an annual assignment for Hotels Magazine. Hotelier of the World award (28th year for the magazine) is similar to an Oscar for the winning Hotelier as it is other hoteliers saying you are the best in the business this year. This was my 7th year photographing the event. It was held at the Palace Hotel, one of my favorites! Being 70 degrees and sunny, I did alot of walking and people watching. I also enjoyed one of the best Peroggi's of my life in Central Park at Kish Kosh and the best barbeque at Virgils. Love NY!

Surprises

I love to surprise people, especially my lovely wife and best friend, Kelli. Several months ago I decided to surprise her and plan a getaway weekend. Little did I know that our October would be one of the cloudiest and coldest on record at home and I had picked a sunny warm destination! With great appreciation for our good friend, Joanne, who helped me pack a separate carry on bag for Kelli, my brother in law Dan and his wife Pui for watching our kids this past weekend.

I had to convince my kids and Kelli to spend the 4 day weekend over Halloween in Glenview, IL with my brother in law and sister in law. This is something we have never done and was no easy task when 3 children are taken into consideration. I had to sell them on the fact that they would have more fun with their aunt, uncle and baby cousin than at home with their friends. Kelli had no clue we were going anywhere until the drive to her brother's house on Wednesday night and I told her and the kids I have planned a get away weekend. I through out a few options we have done before. Chicago, Door County, Mackinaw Island. I totally had her going! Then the big stipulation that we had to get up at 5 am on Thursday morning! She was not happy about not being able to sleep in the 1st day of a long weekend, but quickly got over it.

I have an assignment every year in NY City in November, and she has always come with me the past 7 years. This year she will not be able to make it. We always have a blast in NY or anywhere we go for that matter. So I decided to pour her coffee in a I love NY mug that early morning to throw her off yet again. I also did not want her thinking we were going somewhere warm, since she packed for a typical fall weekend in the Midwest. We arrived at O'hare Airport and when we went up to the ticket check in I said to the agent "My lovely wife has no idea where we are going for our 16th anniversary. Would you please tell her!" She was floored, to say the least. Earlier when I poured her the cup of coffee in the NY mug, she remarked very politely so as not to hurt my feelings "The next time you plan something like this, think somewhere sunny and warm with a beach!" I was dying inside and trying not to laugh, knowing we were headed to Miami South beach, with and ocean front room and our own beach!

Even the flight attendant got in on the action. He drew a custom designed mug American Airlines mug for us from "Spike"(photo attached) in honor of our wedding anniversary. The 1st photo in South Beach and my personal favorite one is Kelli's 1st view from our balcony room of the beach and pool!

This has been one of our most memorable and fun trips. I love Marriott Hotels not just because of the awesome points, but also you can expect and receive good service. If you ever make it to Miami South beach, I highly recommend the Marriott South Beach at 161 Ocean Dr. Thanks to the staff for all the little extras, Corrona's with limes, chips and salsa, awaiting in our room as we arrive, the ocean front view room... Love the food and night life here is like no other! Joes Stone Crabs, one of our favorites (not to be confused with Joe's Crab Shack). Kelli's first for Stone Cold Crab's!

Time to head down to the beach!

Smile

What a crazy but great week. I just got back from our State WPPA Fall Convention and what a great line up and speakers. I hosted a good friend Ken Sklute, from Arizona, who put on two awesome programs for us. He came in a day early and stayed with my family. Probably one of the most enjoyable and nicest house guest we ever had. I took him to the Harley Museum and then the next day drove to Devil's lake for a hike and some great fall colors, before going to our convention.

Why is it that as photographers our job is to bring the inner beauty out in people, and some photographers use 1,2,3 to get people to smile. I just don't get it. When I hear photographers say this to get people to smile, I can't help but think of my childhood or me disciplining my children."When I get to 3 you better..."
I only bring this up because I worked with another photographer a couple weeks ago and he was using it.
If you are a bride to be. please make sure you find out how your photographer gets his clients to smile.

Our Anniversary

Sixteen years of bliss with my best friend! What a fantastic time celebrating our anniversary last night.Thursday I purchased Tickets to Steely Dan for a Nov. show, and needed to figure out how to surprise my wife. Since they will be playing the album Aja in its entirety, I thought I should get the vinyl record. The perfect dinner music! I happened to find it at Half Price Books.

I made Salmon en Papillote. If you want to impress the ladies or any guests, this is sure to please. Salmon baked in parchment paper with plum tomatoes, green onions, ripe olives, lemon zest and to top it off Basil Pesto. It was the BOMB! Accompanied with a delicious Sterling 2007 Sauvignon Blanc to compliment it.
We sat down to dinner, I put on the record and we enjoyed a fantastic home cooked meal. Afterwords I turned to my beautiful bride and said "What a awesome album, wouldn't it be great to see them live!"and brought out the tickets to the show!

Customizing your wedding

This morning I met with the mother of a potential bride, whose daughter lives in D.C. After a great meeting, I felt a sense of accomplishment, not because she loved my photography, but because I was able to help her with many details of the wedding and answer all her questions.

I pride my business on customizing the coverage and packages to meet the needs of each client. No request is too small or big, in my mind. It is their wedding not mine, and the more we can help each client get what they want, the happier we all are. That is why I remind myself all the time that even though I might not necessarly make more $$ by adjusting a package to meet a client's needs, I come out far ahead in the long run by helping each client get exactly what they want and in turn I get business where I least expect it.

Just two weeks ago, I was waiting in the lobby of a hotel for the bride and bridesmaids to come down and a bridesmaid came off of the elevator limping. Her back strap on her shoe had broke. I do what I always do and figured out how I could help her. Her strap happened to be silver and I had silver duct tape in my car. I ran across the street to get it and I was able to do a temporary repair. It felt better than just saying I am sorry to hear that and do nothing at all.

Help others out in life and it will come back ten fold to you!

Eugenie & Kahlil

Eugenie and Kahlil you have truly been blessed! The love you not only have for each other, but also from your family and friends was so apparent Saturday. Your wedding was so special in a multitude of levels, I don't know where to begin. I was honored to capture these images for your family and friends, so that they may remember what a awesome day you had.

The flowers were not only breath taking, but carried the beauty all the way through the day into the reception.
Moorhead and Rhodes florist in Mequon,WI262-242-7728.

The wedding planner Denise was a treat to work with, relaxed, keeping everything in order and helping in every way she could. Thank you Denise!

The Art Museum of Milwaukee always one of my favorites. My good friend Anne Radtke saw to all the details and made it a very special night, for all. David, your staff and award winning chefs Chris Hatlel and Nick Burki who created Butternut Squash Soup, Mixed Baby Greens, Beef Tenderloin, Halibut, and Risotto that tantalized our pallets! The Desserts to follow dinner were out of this world!

It was especially nice that it did not rain as they were calling for. The cocktail hour was held on the Baumgartner Terrace with a Jazz Trio all the way from Florida Scott Marischen. Nothing is better at cocktail hour than Jazz Trio to please all, as well as a first dance to
top all off.

After dinner the band from Chicago, Peter Hennes Orchestra, kept everyone having a blast into the night, and what a great night it was!

Rely on the professionals

Wedding planning can certainly be stressful. So many blogs,websites, friends and family giving advice.
My advice is always ask the professionals. We are here to help you make your day as stress free as possible. You hired your vendors for your wedding because you felt comfortable with them; they seemed to click with you and what you envision your special day to be.
That is what I love best about what I do. Being able to capture wedding or portraits the way couples dream there day would be is very gratifying for me.
I discovered a great idea for wedding favors for your guests - bookmarks. Books and book clubs are more popular than ever. I make customized bookmarks for my clients. Why not have your photographer photograph your engagement session and have them create bookmarks for all the guests? Check out the link. Wedding Favors

Sevasti and David

What a beautiful bride Sevasti was this past Saturday!
And David - I loved his sense of humor! The two of you could not have
had a more perfect day, you both deserved it!
Seeing all the family come from Greece was quite impressive.
The videographer, Eric from www.superiorweddingvideo.com is always
a pleasure to work with and one of my favorites. The flowers were spectacular,
and one of the nicest vendors to work with www.bellefioriflorist.com. Emily you Rock!

The Greek Annunciation Church in Milwaukee always has breathtaking ceremonies!,www.annunciationwi.org To finish it up at the Pfister,

www.thepfisterhotel.com/Weddings/index.asp. they wowed us all with shrimp and steak done to perfection. My pallet was bursting with the great flavors of an awesome meal! Greg Talaska, thanks for making it special for all of Sevasti and David's guests. You and your staff were terrific to work with.